LUMIX® S1 12.1 Megapixel Digital Camera

DMC-S1

Features

Introduction

Panasonic's smart and very stylish DMC-S series of point-and-shoot digital cameras have been developed for newcomers to the digital format. The LUMIX DMC-S1 is the perfect entry-level device to help you get started in taking amazing photos with ease.

The S1 is equipped with the basics required for taking great photographs; no complex manual settings to worry about and plenty of automated functions for incredible ease of use. The MEGA Optical Image Stabilizer prevents the blurring caused by camera vibrations, the 28mm wide-angle lens has 4x optical zoom for increased versatility, and the 720p HD video recording function delivers live action movies in beautiful high definition.

Adding to the simplicity and usability of the S1 is its conveniently located shutter button and unique rounded design, which allows the camera to rest comfortably in the palm of your hand. The color-matched lens ring gives the S1 a fashionable look, and you can choose from a variety of great body colors including black, silver, blue, gold, pink, white and lavender. With this lightweight, compact digital point-and-shoot, you'll be able to take high quality photos and videos effortlessly.

Technology

28mm Wide-angle 4x Optical Zoom Lens:

The S1 features a newly developed 28mm wide-angle LUMIX DC VARIO lens with 4x optical zoom. The advanced technology of the lens delivers stunning image quality in a compact, portable body.

The 28mm wide-angle lens makes it easy to capture expansive landscapes, large-scale architectural structures or large groups of people with rich perspective and dynamic breadth, even at short distances.

The powerful 4x optical zoom is equivalent to 28-112mm on a traditional 35mm camera. Panasonic's Extra Optical Zoom function engages the center part of the CCD to extend the zoom ratio to an impressive 7.8x at a 3-megapixel or less resolution. The addition of the Extra Optical Zoom increases the zoom power of the SI to a maximum of 31.2x.

2.7-inch LCD with 230,000-dot Resolution:

The generous 2.7-inch LCD display screen makes framing and reviewing shots quick and easy. The 230,000-dot resolution and bright LCD technology reflects fine details beautifully, providing a more reliable means of checking focus before shooting. The screen's larger size also makes the S1 a capable photo and video viewer so users can easily share images with friends and family right at the camera.

Venus Engine:

The powerful Venus Engine VI image processor uses advanced technology to deliver stunning images, even in high sensitivity shooting. The engine can process multiple signals simultaneously for every image, enabling high speed and high performance. The Venus Engine also helps improve the precision of various functions including image stabilization and automated ISO control, providing even greater image quality in all situations. Along with this extremely impressive performance, the Venus Engine has been designed with a number of energy-saving functions. These ensure that it consumes less power and therefore supports a longer battery life.

The Venus Engine VI also has improved noise reduction. Advanced noise reduction is applied to luminance noise and chromatic noise separately, creating beautiful images with minimal noise all the way up to ISO1600 high sensitivity at full resolution. Nighttime or low-light shooting is enhanced, with virtually no loss of image quality.

Sonic Speed AF: With Sonic Speed Auto Focus, the S1 benefits from a higher-speed actuator, parallel software processing and fully optimized algorithms. The result is faster, more accurate AF performance and focusing that is approximately 45% faster than the S1s predecessor. Moving subjects and action shots come into focus extremely quickly, allowing users to capture more dynamic shots.

Functionality

Intelligent Auto (iA) Mode:

If you think digital photography has to be complex and intimidating, the DMC-S1 has the perfect antidote: Intelligent Auto Mode. With iA Mode, you get fully automated shooting with perfectly optimized settings in just about any situation so you can take amazing photos anywhere, at any time, even those spur of the moment, blink-and-it's-gone candid shots. The iA Mode includes four different detection and correction functions, including; MEGA O.I.S., Intelligent ISO Control, Intelligent Scene Selector and Face Detection; all of these features are engaged simultaneously so you never have to fuss with manual controls or tricky settings.

MEGA O.I.S.:

Sometimes, when the shutter button is pressed it can make the camera vibrate slightly, causing your image to blur and ruining the shot. Low lighting situations can also lead to image blurring, which can be incredibly frustrating for novice photographers. The MEGA O.I.S. automatically corrects any blurring caused by hand-shake or insufficient lighting. You'll be able to shoot indoors or at night, without having to worry about ruining your shot or upsetting the mood by adding extra lighting. MEGA O.I.S. also works for zoom and macro shooting, which can be especially susceptible to blurring. Take pictures with confidence, knowing that your images will always turn out crisp and clear.

Intelligent Scene Selector:

When the S1 is set to iA Mode, the Intelligent Scene Selector automatically judges ambient lighting, focus distance and other factors to choose the most appropriate scene setting for the situation. Scene modes include; Scenery, Portrait, Sunset, Night Scenery, Night Portrait or Macro. No matter where you are or what time of day it is, you will record fully optimized images with exceptional clarity, brightness and detail. This makes the S1 ideal for travel photography or for use at major events like weddings and graduations, where you are likely to be shooting in a variety of situations, or at many different times of day.

Intelligent ISO Control:

Intelligent ISO Control, powered by the Venus Engine, picks up subject movement and instinctively adjusts ISO settings and shutter speed to deliver the best possible results for the conditions. When the ISO Control detects a subject in motion, it automatically responds by increasing the ISO level and shutter speed to stop any motion blur. When a subject is still, ISO Control lowers ISO settings for detailed, natural photos. So whether you are shooting a marching band in a parade or a lovely rose bush in the backyard, Intelligent ISO Control helps you compose impressive shots with near-perfect reproduction.

Face Detection:

One of the most innovative features of the S1 is the responsive Face Detection Auto Focus/Auto Exposure setting. Face Detection can sense faces in a frame and automatically adjusts focus and exposure for optimized results, delivering beautiful, natural expressions. Face Detection makes sure the camera is always focused on your subjects' faces, not any objects that might be in front of or behind them in the shot. Indoor shooting never makes faces appear too dark, even when you take photos with a backlight. The feature can pick up as many as 15 faces at once, making the S1 a great option if you love to take large group shots at family gatherings, holiday celebrations or school functions. There's even an added Face Tracking function that follows your chosen subject in the frame until you're ready to take the shot. Even if your subject moves, changes position or falls to the back of a group shot, Face Tracking maintains focus and exposure for amazing results.

Scene Mode:

Scene Mode takes the hassle out of choosing the right settings for your shooting circumstances. The S1 automatically detects ambient conditions and engages the proper scene mode for the best possible image results. There are more than a dozen different Scene Mode options, giving you a versatile range of shooting styles and making it easier than ever to create beautiful images in any situation. The simple, easy to understand icons are displayed right on the LCD screen, so you always know which mode you're using. Scene Mode offers the following optimized settings: Portrait, Scenery, Night Portrait, Party, High Sensitivity, Snow, Soft Skin, Panorama Assist, Night Scenery, Baby, Fireworks, Self-portrait, Sports, Food, Sunset and Beach.

Extended Battery Life:

There are few things worse than reaching for your camera to capture a once-in-a-lifetime shot, only to find that the battery is drained and the camera won't power on. Thanks to the S1s energy saving Venus Engine image processor and rechargeable lithium-ion battery, you get up to 240 shots on a single battery charge. You get plenty of power (even through a long day of shooting) so you'll be able to capture every precious moment.

HD Movie Recording:

The DMC-S1 is capable of recording movies in full 1280 x 720 HD in the popular and highly compatible Motion format. You won't need to haul around a separate video camcorder for all those special events and important celebrations; the S1 does double duty with exceptional performance and reliability.

View Images on Large-screen TV:

What fun is there in capturing high quality HD images if you can't view them properly? That's why the S1 has been equipped with a compatibility feature that lets you output your photos and videos to any HDTV for dynamic, impressive full screen viewing. Transferring your images is quick and easy, and even simpler if you have a Panasonic VIERA HDTV. Just insert the camera's SD/SDHC/SDXC memory card into the corresponding port on the VIERA for instant viewing.

PictBridge Compatible:

Printing photos has never been easier thanks to PictBridge technology. You can send photos from your camera directly to a compatible digital printer and adjust print size, layout, photo date stamp and other settings right on the S1. You can even create multiple copies of a single image or select individual photos to print.

LUMIX Image Uploader:

Share your photos and videos with everyone in your social network with the super-simple LUMIX Image Uploader. The process is easy to use and takes just seconds, so you'll be posting to your Facebook profile or YouTube channel in no time at all. Just select the photos or movies you want to share from your S1, connect the camera to your computer via USB cable or memory card port, and follow the on-screen instructions. Photos post to Facebook almost instantly, and videos are uploaded to YouTube in seconds. If you don't have a Facebook or YouTube account, registration is fast and free, with no special software to download.

PHOTOfunSTUDIO 6.0:

Get more fun out of your photos with Panasonic's bundled PHOTOfunSTUDIO 6.0 image editing or organization software. You can sort and organize new photos you've taken with your DMC-S1 or older photos from a different camera that are stored on your computer. PHOTOfunSTUDIO 6.0 integrates with the Face Detection function, recognizing faces in pictures and sorting photos of specific people automatically. There's also a Panorama Stitch feature that lets you create impressive panoramic images with ease, a slideshow feature that allows you to put together customized slideshows with background music, and an upload feature that posts your pictures and videos to Facebook and YouTube.

Built-in Memory:

The S1 gives you more freedom to capture life's most important moments, even if you don't have an SD/SDHC/SDXC memory card on hand. The S1 is equipped with 20MB of built-in memory so your camera's hard drive will store tons of pictures safely and securely. Later, you can transfer images to a memory card or your computer without losing picture quality or optimization. Use the integrated storage to back-up a full memory card or to save your favorite pictures, you can then view them right from your camera anytime you want.

Summary

There's no longer any excuse to be intimidated by digital photography. The super powerful, super intuitive, super easy to use Panasonic LUMIX DMC-S1 makes taking incredible photos and HD-quality videos a breeze. This is thanks to its host of advanced technology, newly developed features and a focus on automatic image optimization. Even if you've never used a compact digital before, you're sure to get impressive results the first time you point and shoot. The S1 is also highly portable and lightweight so it can go wherever you go, and is perfect for travel and casual shooting in virtually any situation. Whether you want to try your hand at digital photography for the first time, upgrade from an older compact model or have a versatile, durable point-and-shoot for everyday use, the LUMIX DMC-S1 is a great choice and fantastic value.

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I am a professional photographer who is seriously considering switching to the Lumix mirrorless cameras. Does Panasonic have, or can you suggest, a web site that demonstrates how professional photographers are successfully using the Lumix professional cameras?

In conjunction with our Panasonic.com web site, our Sales and Marketing team also runs LUMIXLOUNGE.COM This site features work from Panasonic’s Luminary team of professional photographers who have migrated to the Lumx mirrorless cameras. The site also features schedules to live on-line and dealer events as well as convenient links to our latest firmware updates. Additional features to expand the site are already in progress.

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